Rechargeable aerosol-type dispensing device for whipped cream

ABSTRACT

A rechargeable aerosol-type dispensing device which is rechargeable from a gas cartridge, the device consisting of a container, a removable end plug, and a plunger valve in the end plug. To the valve plunger can be attached either a connecting socket for the gas cartridge, or a dispensing nozzle, so that the valve, when pushed open, admits a charge of gas in the first case and dispenses the contents, whipped cream, for example, in the second case.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,868,978

Knopf I Mar. 4, 1975 1 RECIIARGEABLE AEROSOL-TYPE 3,556,171 1/1971 Gangwisch et a1 141/3 DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WHIPPED CREAM Inventor: Karl Horst Knopf, Kohlfurth 50,

565 Solingen, Germany Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 Appl. No.: 418,179

Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 22, 1972 Austria 9958/72 US. Cl 141/19, 141/20, 141/384, 426/163 Int. Cl B6511 3/04, B65b 31/00 Field of Search 141/3, l7, 19, 20, 383-386, 141/329, 330; 426/163, 164, 166

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1940 Ward 141/19 Primary E.rami11erHouston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmBacon & Thomas [57] ABSTRACT A rechargeable aerosol-type dispensing device which is rechargeable from a gas cartridge, the device consisting of a container, a removable end plug, and a 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures RECHARGEABLE AEROSOL-TYPE DISPENSING DEVICE FOR WHIPPED CREAM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to aerosol devices, and in particular to rechargeable aerosol-type dispensing devices from which the contents, whipped cream, for example, are dispensable by means of compressed gas or laughing gas, the container having a valve which serves both for the dispensing of the contents and for the admission of a new gas charge. The latter is accomplished with the aid of an intermediate connecting socket which provides a rigid connection to the jacket of a pressure cartridge and also punctures the cartridge seal by means of a suitable hollow needle.

2. Description of the Prior Art Aerosol-type devices producing whipped cream with the aid of compressed gas or laughing gas are known from the prior art. One such prior art device consists of a pressure-resistant container serving as a cream recipient, valves being used to control the introduction of the pressurized gas and the dispensing of whipped cream. This kind of device requires a first valve for the introduction of compressed gas or laughing gas and a second valve for dispensing, i.e. for the discharge of whipped cream. Both valves are mounted on the closure plug of the container. These two valves render the device comparatively complex in structure, unwieldly, and expensive. They also make it possible to operate the device incorrectly, in that they permit the operation of the dispensing valve even during the introduction of compressed gas. Furthermore, the cleaning of the device is comparatively complicated and time consuming.

A device of the aforementioned type has also been suggested for use in conjunction with the recharging of siphons with carbon dioxide and the like. In this device the pressure-resistant container is provided with a downwardly extending lateral discharge beak. Behind this discharge beak, on the side of the siphon head, is arranged a valve which communicates with the inside of the container, opening it to the discharge beak. The valve can be operated by means of a control lever extending laterally from the head of the container. This kind of device is not suitable for the production of whipped cream, if only for the reasons that the device has a comparatively long discharge conduit and that the valve arrangement is very difficult to clean. This device would furthermore be very difficult to manipulate, as for example, in the case in which it is desirable to create decorations of whipped cream.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to overcome the above shortcomings by suggesting a device which is simpler and more advantageous than prior art devices, by being easier to clean and to operate in connection with the production of whipped cream, for example, augmented by the elimination of lengthy discharge conduits and a reduction in the number of structural elements, in addition to having improved handling characteristics.

The invention proposes to attain the above objectives by suggesting a device which is characterized in that the refill opening of the pressure container is provided with an end plug carrying a valve whose valve plunger is displaceable for valve opening along the valve axis and against a spring bias, the valve plunger having a valve passage serving both for the introduction of laughing gas and for the discharge of whipped cream, the plunger further including means on its protruding portion for the attachment of a connecting socket.

In this manner is obtained an extremely simple and compact valve arrangement which is very easy to clean and which can be accommodated essentially inside the throat of the container opening so that the travel paths are minimized. During the dispensing of whipped cream, the container can be held and operated conveniently with one hand, the hand preferably holding the container in the manner of a writing utensil, The num ber of necessary parts is considerably reduced.

A nozzle for the dispensing of whipped cream can be mounted in the place of the connecting socket by screwing it onto a male thread on the valve plunger. Such a dispensing nozzle may be used to give the strand of expelled whipped cream a particular profile.

A sealing collar is arranged in the bore of the connecting socket to cooperate with the neck of a gas cartridge, the sealing collar being preferably reversible and having a sealing bore portion on one side which is cylindrical and a portion on the other side which is funneLshaped or tapered. In this manner the device can be used in conjunction with cartridges having a cylindrical neck as well as with cartridges having a tapered neck.

It is further preferable to provide a polygonal surface, eg a hexagonal shoulder, on the protruding portion of the valve plunger below its male thread which can be engaged by a suitable wrench. With the latter the valve plunger can be prevented from rotating, when the connecting socket is screwed onto it. It is thus possible to firmly tighten the connecting socket or the dispensing nozzle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further special features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description following below, when taken together with the accompanying drawing which illustrates, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention, represented in the various figures as follows:

FIG. I shows in a vertical cross section the upper part of a rechargeable aerosol-type whipped cream container with a valve arrangement embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a connecting socket, partially in cross section, which can be screwed onto the valve plunger;

FIG. 3 shows a wrench serving for the attachment of the connecting socket;

FIG. 4 shows in an elevational view, a gas cartridge inside a gas cartridge jacket;

FIG. 5 illustrates a dispensing nozzle for whipped cream; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section through the end plug and cap of the container of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The parts illustrated in the drawing are limited to those portions which are necessary for a full understanding of the invention. In FIG. I is shown at l a pressure-resistant container, for example a whipped cream container. The latter is used for the dispensing of whipped cream, using compressed gas, for instance laughing gas. The container 1 is closed off by means of an end plug 2, the male thread of the end plug engaging a female thread in the container neck. At 3 is indicated an elastic gasket.

As shown in FIG. 6, a valve assembly 4 is mounted in the end plug 2, the valve being arranged to serve both for the introduction of the pressurized gas and for the dispensing of whipped cream.

In the center of valve 4 is arranged a valve plunger 5 which has an axial bore 6, the latter being closed off at the inner end of the valve plunger. The valve plunger 5 is axially movable relative to the end plug 2, a spring 7 biasing the plunger toward a retracted end position. The biasing spring 7 has one end resting on the outer end face of plug 2 and its other end engaging one side of a hexagonal shoulder 8 on the valve plunger 5. The retracting motion of the valve plunger is delimited by an abutment member 9 attached to the inner end of the valve plunger 5 and bearing against an inner face of end plug 2. In the embodiment illustrated the abutment member 9 is a simple nut.

At a distance above the abutment nut 9 the valve shaft 5 has a cross bore 10 intersecting the end portion of the axial bore 6. In the retracted position of valve plunger 5 both ends of the cross bore 10 are sealed off by the side wall of the guide bore inside the end plug 2, the valve plunger 5 being sealingly guided inside said bore. The gasket arranged above the abutment member 9 is normally being pressed against the entry portion of the guide bore so that the latter is hermetrically sealed. A second gasket, designated by numeral 12, is arranged above cross bore 10.

On its portion protruding from the container end plug, the valve plunger 5 is provided with a male thread 13. At a distance above this thread is further arranged a radial groove carrying a gasket 14.

As is illustrated in FIG. 2, a connecting socket is arranged to be screwed onto the male thread 13 of valve plunger 5, the connecting socket having in its lower portion 16 a matching female thread. On the outside of the lower socket portion 16 are further arranged two diametrially opposite facets 17 against which a wrench 18 can be applied so as to forcibly screw the socket 15 onto the thread 13 of the valve plunger. The valve plunger 5 itself can likewise be engaged on its hexagonal shoulder 8 by a suitable wrench so as to prevent it from rotating.

The upper portion 19 of the connecting socket 15 has an enlarged cylindrical recess. Inside the latter is arranged a sealing sleeve 27 of a flexible material, such as rubber. The sealing sleeve 27 has an inner bore composed of a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion is arranged on the upper side, thereby cooperating with a cartridge having a corresponding cylindrical neck 33. In the case of a gas cartridge having a tapered neck, the sealing sleeve 27 is simply inverted, so that the tapered bore portion is oriented upwardly and cooperates with a similarly tapered neck of a cartridge. A threaded washer 22 retains the sealing sleeve 27 inside the socket, the washer 22 engaging a matching female thread inside the socket.

The gas cartridge 23 is retained inside a shell-shaped jacket 24 which may be of plastic material, for example. The hollow jacket 24 is provided with a female thread 25 on its lower side cooperating with a male thread 26 arranged on the connector portion 19. The

cartridge can thus be screwed onto the connecting socket 15, which in turn is screwed onto the thread 13 of valve plunger 5. In the bore of the connecting socket 15 is further arranged a piercing button which carries a hollow, axially oriented needle 28 at the height of the sealing sleeve 27, the hollow needle 28 serving to puncture the seal inside the neck of the gas cartridge, when the latter is screwed onto the connecting socket.

A cap 30 arranged on the protruding part of valve plunger 5 encloses a portion of the latter, including the biasing spring 7. Cap 30 also serves to operate the valve 4, when two fingers are applied against it.

In the embodiment illustrated, the cap 30 includes an inwardly extending short collar of hexagonal outline which engages the hexagonal shoulder 8 of plunger 5, the cap thus serving to retain the plunger against rotation, when the connecting socket 15 or a dispensing nozzle 31 (FIG. 5) is screwed onto the plunger.

FIG. 5 illustrates a dispensing nozzle 31, preferably of plastic material. This nozzle is provided with a female thread 32 so that it can be screwed onto the matching male thread 13 of the valve plunger 5, provided the connecting socket 15 and the jacket 14 with the gas cartridge have been previously removed. Whipped cream can be dispensed through the dispensing nozzle 31, when the valve 4 is opened by depressing the cap 30 against the end plug 2 of container 1.

The device of the invention operates as follows:

After removal of the end plug 2 from the container 1, a portion of its inner space is filled with cream, whereupon the container is closed again by tightening its end plug 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

At this point the connecting socket 15 is screwed onto the protruding portion of the valve plunger 5, the connection being tightened by means of wrenches 18 engaging the facets 17 of socket 15 and, if necessary, the hexagonal shoulder 8 of plunger 5.

Lastly, the jacket 24 with the gas cartridge is screwed onto the male thread 19 of connecting socket 15. The cartridge neck 33 thereby engages with the bore of the sealing sleeve 27, while the cartridge seal inside the cartridge neck is being punctured by the hollow needle 28. The cartridge jacket 24 is now rigidly linked to the valve plunger 5, and the valve can be opened by simply pushing the cartridge jacket 24 in the direction of the container 1. This motion causes'the cross bore 10 of the valve plunger 5 to be exposed to the inside of the container, thereby permitting pressurized gas to flow from the cartridge container 1. After a sufficient amount of laughing gas has passed into the container, the jacket 24 is released, whereupon the spring 7 retracts the valve plunger 5, closing the valve. The cartridge and the connecting socket 15 can now be removed and a dispensing nozzle 31 can be attached in their place by screwing it onto thread 13. Lastly, the cream and pressurized gas inside the container are intermingled by shaking the container.

The device is now ready for the dispensing of whipped cream, the valve container 1 being pointed downwardly. The valve 4 can be opened by depressing the cap 30 against the container 1, until the cross bore 10 is again exposed to the inside of the container, at which time a mixture of gas and foamed cream passes through the cross bore 10, and via the axial valve passage 6, into the dispensing nozzle 31.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing disclosure described only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications of this example of the invention which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An aerosol-type dispensing device which is rechargeable from a conventional gas cartridge, usable, for example, as a rechargeable whipped cream dispenser, comprising in combination:

a pressure-resistant container having a refill opening;

a removable end plug sealingly closing the container opening;

a valve arranged inside the end plug, the valve having a spring-biased plunger of which a length portion protrudes from the end plug and through which a normally closed axial valve passage leads to the outside of the container, thereby permitting discharge of the container contents, when the valve is opened; and

a cartridge connecting socket which is removably attachable to the protruding portion of the valve plunger and which has a gas passageway which sealingly communicates with the axial valve passage, when the socket is attached thereto, the socket further including means for opening its gas passageway to the inside of a gas cartridge, thereby permitting pressurized gas to flow from the cartridge into the container, when the valve is open.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a dispensing nozzle which is attachable to the protruding portion of the valve plunger in the place of the cartridge connecting socket.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the end plug has a cylindrical axial guide bore extending through it;

the valve plunger reaches axially through the end plug, having a cylindrical length portion sealingly engaging said guide bore; and

the axial valve passage leads as far as a cross bore in said cylindrical plunger portion, said cross bore being normally obturated by the guide bore, but open to the inside of the container, when the valve plunger is axially displaced toward the inside of the container.

4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the valve further includes a shoulder on the protruding .portion of the plunger, a helical biasing spring on the plunger between the end plug and said shoulder, and an abutment means for positioning the retracted valve plunger in its closed position in cooperation with said spring.

5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the valve further includes a cap attached to the protruding portion of the plunger so as to serve as a finger-engageable valve operating means.

6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the valve further includes a male thread on the protruding portion of its plunger;

the cartridge connecting socket has a matching female thread in one end portion thereof and a sealing collar in its other end portion, said sleeve being adapted to sealingly engage the neck of a gas cartridge; and

said opening means of the connecting socket is a piercing button having an axially extending hollow needle located inside said sealing collar and which, when the neck of a gas cartridge is received by the sealing collar, punctures a seal inside the cartridge neck.

8 7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein:

said sealing collar of the connecting socket has a center bore of which one length portion is cylindrical so as to cooperate with a cylindrical cartridge neck, and another length portion is tapered so as to cooperate with a tapered cartridge neck, the sealing collar being reversible in its mounting position.

8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein:

the connecting socket further includes a male thread on its outer surface which is adapted to cooperate with a matching female thread of a cartridge jacket for the purpose of forcibly connecting the cartridge to the connecting socket; the socket further includ ing facet means engageable by a conventional wrench.

9. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising:

a removable dispensing nozzle having a nozzle opening on one end thereof and a female thread in the other end which matches the male thread on the protruding portion of the valve plunger. 

1. An aerosol-type dispensing device which is rechargeable from a conventional gas cartridge, usable, for example, as a rechargeable whipped cream dispenser, comprising in combination: a pressure-resistant container having a refill opening; a removable end plug sealingly closing the container opening; a valve arranged inside the end plug, the valve having a springbiased plunger of which a length portion protrudes from the end plug and through which a normally closed axial valve passage leads to the outside of the container, thereby permitting discharge of the container contents, when the valve is opened; and a cartridge connecting socket which is removably attachable to the protruding portion of the valve plunger and which has a gas passageway which sealingly communicates with the axial valve passage, when the socket is attached thereto, the socket further including means for opening its gas passageway to the inside of a gas cartridge, thereby permitting pressurized gas to flow from the cartridge into the container, when the valve is open.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a dispensing nozzle which is attachable to the protruding portion of the valve plunger in the place of the cartridge connecting socket.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the end plug has a cylindrical axial guide bore extending through it; the valve plunger reaches axially througH the end plug, having a cylindrical length portion sealingly engaging said guide bore; and the axial valve passage leads as far as a cross bore in said cylindrical plunger portion, said cross bore being normally obturated by the guide bore, but open to the inside of the container, when the valve plunger is axially displaced toward the inside of the container.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein: the valve further includes a shoulder on the protruding portion of the plunger, a helical biasing spring on the plunger between the end plug and said shoulder, and an abutment means for positioning the retracted valve plunger in its closed position in cooperation with said spring.
 5. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the valve further includes a cap attached to the protruding portion of the plunger so as to serve as a finger-engageable valve operating means.
 6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein: the valve further includes a male thread on the protruding portion of its plunger; the cartridge connecting socket has a matching female thread in one end portion thereof and a sealing collar in its other end portion, said sleeve being adapted to sealingly engage the neck of a gas cartridge; and said opening means of the connecting socket is a piercing button having an axially extending hollow needle located inside said sealing collar and which, when the neck of a gas cartridge is received by the sealing collar, punctures a seal inside the cartridge neck.
 7. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein: said sealing collar of the connecting socket has a center bore of which one length portion is cylindrical so as to cooperate with a cylindrical cartridge neck, and another length portion is tapered so as to cooperate with a tapered cartridge neck, the sealing collar being reversible in its mounting position.
 8. A device as defined in claim 6, wherein: the connecting socket further includes a male thread on its outer surface which is adapted to cooperate with a matching female thread of a cartridge jacket for the purpose of forcibly connecting the cartridge to the connecting socket; the socket further including facet means engageable by a conventional wrench.
 9. A device as defined in claim 6, further comprising: a removable dispensing nozzle having a nozzle opening on one end thereof and a female thread in the other end which matches the male thread on the protruding portion of the valve plunger. 